MTV VMAs 2016: Who’s Performing, Who’s Nominated, When’s It On?

The 2016 MTV Video Music Awards will descend on New York City's Madison Square Garden on August 28 and 9/8c. Who's set to perform? Who's nominated? And will it be as insane and messy as last year's show? We've got answers to most of those questions, while signs point to "no" on the latter.

Future is set to perform, the network announced on August 22, a mere six days before the event. It'll be Future's very first VMAs performance.

The Chainsmokers, who had a summer smash with "Don't Let Me Down" featuring Daya, also hit No. 1 on the Hot 100 with Halsey collab "Closer" — and they'll perform it on Sunday.

Nick Jonas has received an upgrade from pre-show performer in the 2015 VMAs: He'll perform Last Year Was Complicated single "Bacon" with Ty Dolla Sign. Nick had expressed dejection over being snubbed in the VMA nominations, but the billing has likely smoothed all that over.

Rihanna's 11 years of hard work work work work work in the music video realm will be honored, as she's the recipient of the 2016 Michael Jackson Video Vanguard Award. In addition to an acceptance speech like Kanye West's in 2015 (minus the campaign announcement?), we'll be treated to a performance —specifically, her new Anti single "Love on the Brain" as well as an electrifying opening medley of "the biggest tracks of her career," according to VMAs executive producer Jesse Ignjatovic. "I can tell you it's going to be one of those holy crap VMA moments," he told Entertainment Weekly.

Britney Spears, meanwhile, will share her Glory in her first VMAs performance since 2007, deliveringlead album single "Make Me" featuring G-Eazy. Given the strength of the songs on her ninth release, we're optimistic that her performance will be more "I'm a Slave 4 U" A-game than her infamous "Gimme More" onstage languor nine years ago. Read our breakdown of every life-giving reference in the below announcement video:

There's also a rumor brewing that Beyonce will return to ('cause I) slay the VMAs with a fresh taste of Lemonade. Still more rumors have Bey and Jay-Z dropping their wholly-unconfirmed joint followup album that very same night. That smells like wishful thinking, but please: Feel free to prove us wrong, B.

Who's Presenting at the 2016 VMAs?

Kim Kardashian, for one, who'll be there with husband and 2015 Vanguard recipient Kanye West. According to TMZ's unconfirmed report, MTV's giving Kanye four free minutes of airtime. Will he perform? Will he ramble? Will he extend an olive branch to his Grammy speech double-crosser Taylor Swift? Either way, it just may be the most entertaining four minutes of the evening.

There is no VMAs host this year, and the video accompanying Nick's performance announcement indicates an artsier and slightly more serious angle for this year's ceremony than that of 2015. Their selection of Miley Cyrus as last year's emcee (and the accompanying promo graphics, which essentially piggybacked on her Tumblr-chic aesthetic) wasn't considered a critical or ratings success — so perhaps MTV's wise to zag in the opposite direction.

On the red carpet, comedy duo Key & Peele will head up the festivities, along with SNL alum Jay Pharoah and comedian Nicole Byer. DJ Khaled will emcee the pre-show, doubtlessly bringing his many positive life affirmations along with him.